Antiskid device



NOV. 30, 1937. H s FRITTS 2,100,539

ANTISKID DEVICE Filed March 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' I \4 5! A; v 4

In venior A iiomeys Nov. 30, 1937 H. S. FRITTS ANTISKID DEVICE Filed March 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor By W Aitomeys Patented Nov. 30, 1937 AN TISKIDi DEVICE Howard S. Fritts, WashingtonpN. J assignor of one-half to Helen S. Bowers, Washington, N. J.

Application March 16, 1937, Serial No. 131,248

5 Claims.

This invention relates to anti-skid devices such as are used in connection with present day rubber tired vehicles including automobiles and the like, and the purpose of the invention is to provide a structurally new and distinct assembly of features whose component parts have been carefully chosen to perform separately and collectively in providing multiple purpose means aptly fitted to counteract undue sliding in the direction of movement of the vehicle as well as socalled lateral or side sliding at right angles to the path of travel.

Needless to say, I am sufficiently conversant with the prior field of invention to appreciate that it is not broadly new to provide structural means having this multi-way anti-skidding feature. It follows, therefore, that in reducing to practice the specific principles of this invention, I have evolved and produced a unique arrangement characterized by novel parts so coordinated and correlated as to make the result more certain, whereby to provide dependable and elfective traction under otherwise severe and dangerous conditions.

As will be hereinafter seen, the essential novelty is predicated upon a pair of transverse or cross-chain members which coact in providing a double section unit having centrally disposed rubber-equipped traction means, andhaving on opposite sides of said central means additional calk-equipped members, all of which parts are so interconnected, mechanically, to afford the facilities required in promoting effective traction.

More specifically, novelty may be said to be reflected from either a single or double crosschain assembly wherein the single chain itself is possessed of distinct features contributing their proportionate share in a way to provide strength, durability, simplicity of construction, and expeditious repair and replacement.

Other and more specific features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like details or parts throughout the various views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the essence of the invention, that is, a double crosschain unit with the intermediate portions of the cross-chains linked and hingedly joined together to cause said intermediate portions to converge and the end portions to diverge.

Figure 2 is a section which may be said tobe taken on the irregular line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail sections onthe lines 33 and 44, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 5 isa bottom plan View of one of the component parts hereinafter called the renewable calk member. 7

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a retention clip or, key. r ,1 Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of. certain of the complemental details.

By way of introduction to the detailed description,'it is to be pointed out that the present application is a continuation in part of my first or original application on an anti-skid device possessing similar structural merit and identified by Serial No. 105,586, filed October 14, 1936, which matured into Patent 2,082,386, June 1, 1937. As will be seen from the concluding claims;

the present case embodies subject matter coma mon to that in the allowed case, and this present application is to be construed accordingly. v Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters, it will be observed that the two companioncross-chains are broadly distinguished by the reference characters A and B; These are joined to the circumferential or so-called side chains C. It may be pointed out, however, that in so far as the features A and B, exhibiting the novelty, are concerned, it is immaterial how these are chained, strapped, or otherwise transversely fastened across the tread of the tire. Figure 2, however, exemplifies the preferred way of accomplishing the desired result, the conventional tire being indicated at D.

Each cross-chain A or B is the same in construction, and a description .of one will suffice for both. To begin with, at the center thereof is a substantially keystone feature denoted generally by the numeral 6. This comprises a block of rubber Iii having imbedded therein abomplemental frame of a shape permittingportions thereof to project beyond the perimeter or edges of said block. These projecting portions define three distinct eyes denoted by the numerals I2 and I3, respectively. On opposite sides of and in close proximity to the key block 9 are the calk-equipped devices or members l4. Each part l4 comprises a metal block l5 having slots therein to accommodate the shank portions I6 of the renewable anti-slipping calks ll. These features I! are arranged in pairs and parallel having their longitudinal dimensions somewhat oblique with respect to the circumferential crown portion of the tire. They serve to dig into the ice and afford requisite traction facilities and guard against sidewise slippage. As seen to advantage in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the cleats or calks are held in place by a spring clip l8 which may be called a keeper clip. This is properly bowed and is snapped into the recessed under side of the block I5 with its edge portions fitting into keeper grooves l9 in the opposed faces of the shanks l6. Thus, the calks are substantially T-shaped in form, slip through slots in the block l5, and are held removably therein by the removable or releasable spring key or keeper l8. The blocks are provided on opposite sides with suitable connecting hooks which connect to the opposed eyes l2. This provides the desired pivotal jointconnection. The outer hooks 2B connect with the adapter chains 2| which in turn connect with the side or circumferential tire chain C.

Each chain unit A or B therefore comprises the central rubber cushioning and anti-slipping blocks 9, the two calk-equipped members or blocks Mio'n opposite sides thereof, and the two adapter chains 2| which serve to join said units with the side chains.

It is desirable, however, to use these crosschains in pairs and to bring them together as illustrated in Figure 1. That is to say, two rubber blocksof respective chains A and E are disposed in longitudinal alignment on the crown portion of the tread of the tire. The adjacent eyes l3 are linked together by a suitable connector 22. This part 22 is bent around the two adjacent eyes l3, as shown to advantage in Figure 3., where its free ends are such as to permit a screw driver or the like to be pried between the ends to remove this hinge connection 22 whenever necessary to make repairs. A short. hinge connection 22 is employed and the chains 2! connected to the side chain so that the device in top plan view is somewhat H-shaped. The assembly is such, ho wever, that the chains 21,. diverge. from the central keystone blocks 9, thus delivering stress and strain in proper directions and insuring effective traction under seemingly abnormal snow and ice conditions. I As implied, novelty-is predicated upon the features A, B, and C, collectively, upon the features.

Aor B, individually, and upon the component parts-which go to make upeither of said sections A or B. The claims-are formulated accordingly.

I: shall not attempt to give a theoretical or supposed scientific explanation. of the exact principle of operation, since it is believed to be substantially self-evident in its four-way principle. It is evident, however, that all of the parts have been" carefully selected and structurally as sembled to bring about the desired coordination and continuity of operation calculated to render the-structure aptly fitted as an ingenious antiskid device. 7

While the preferred embodiment of the in-= vention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. In an anti-skid device for automobile wheels and tires, a twin section unit substantially H-shaped in top plan view, said unit being composed of duplicate sections, said sections being provided at their outer ends with flexible adapter and anchoring chains, being provided at their central portions with hingedly connected rubber cushioning and anti-skid blocks, and provided on opposite sides of said blocks and between said adapted chains with calk-equipped members.

2. In an anti-skid device for automobile wheels and tires, a twin section unit substantially H-shaped in top plan view, said unit being composed of duplicate sections, said sections being provided at their outer ends with flexible adapter and anchoring chains, bein provided at their central portions with hingedly connected rubber cushioning and anti-skid blocks, provided on opposite sides of said blocks and between said adapter chains with calk-equipped members, and means hingedly and separably joining the rubber central blocks in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. Asa new article of manufacture and as a component part of an assembly of the class described, a calk-equipped device comprising a body having spaced parallel slots, a pair of renewable and removable T-shaped calks, thehead portions being disposed in contact with the ground-engaging side of said body, the shank portions extending through said slots, said. shank portions being provided with keeper grooves, and a releasable retention key fitted against the body and, fitted into said groove to hold said calks operatively in place.

4. An anti-skid cross-chain comprising a pair of duplicate flexible adapter chains to facilitate application and maintenance on a tire, a central-ly disposed keystone-shaped rubber cushioning and antieskid block, supplemental blocks on opposite sides of said first-named block hingedly connected to said keystone block, said supplemental blocks being slotted and provided with :1. renewable pairs of anti-slipping calks, said calks being adapted to occupy positions at angles substantially oblique to the normal path of travel,

and said adapter chains being hingedly attached.

to. said supplemental calk-equipped blocks.

5. As a new article of manufacture. and as a complemental part of a cross-chain unit of the class described, a substantially keystone-shaped rubber block, and a substantially T-shaped metal frame molded in the block between the normal inner and outer tire and ground-engaging surfaces, the end portions of said T-shaped frame projecting beyond the adjacent marginal portions of the blocks to provide hinge accommodation eyes.

' HOWARD S. FRI'I'IS. 

